Governor Designates May 7 Territorial Day Of Prayer

Gov. Kenneth Mapp signed a proclamation Thursday to honor a day of prayer throughout the territory.  In 1952, the United States Congress adopted a resolution to set aside and proclaim the first Thursday of May of each year as a National Day of Prayer.

“Faith and prayer are important for the guidance they provide in our lives,” Mapp said.  “We can congregate, worship and pray freely, whether in public or in private.”

The mission of the National Day of Prayer Task Force is to mobilize prayer throughout America and to encourage personal repentance and righteousness in the culture, according to Government House.  The Task Force is a privately funded organization whose purpose is to encourage participation on the National Day of Prayer, the Government House statement said.  It exists to communicate with every individual the need for personal repentance and prayer, to create appropriate materials, and to mobilize the Christian community to intercede for America’s leaders and its families, the statement said.  The Task Force represents a Judeo Christian expression of the national observance, based on our understanding that this country was birthed in prayer and in reverence for the God of the Bible, the governor’s statement said.

This year, Thursday, May 7, 2015 will be set aside as the Territorial Day of Prayer in the U.S. Virgin Islands, commemorating the 64th anniversary of the nationwide observance of this historic celebration.  The theme for 2015 is Lord, Hear Our Cry.

This annual observance has become a unifying force, not only for citizens of our great Nation, but for residents of the territory who come from the various religions of the world, Mapp said.

“Prayer unites people, provides healing, and allows us to overcome the trials and tribulations we face daily,” said the  governor.  “It is especially important that we give thanks and show our appreciation for our Heavenly Father’s continued guidance, for He is our rock and our salvation.”

“I humbly ask that all residents of the territory, each according to their own faith, beliefs, and conscience to join me in honoring all of the grace and blessings imparted to us each and every day and to pray for God’s guidance and protection for the people of our nations and our residents of the territory during these troubled times,” he said.